Lavish weddings are back, but vendors are struggling with costs, labor shortages — and tracking down tents

Editor’s note: This story has been published in partnership with Fortune as part of a Report for America initiative.

MENDOCINO Co., 10/25/21 — Matt Rowland has been planning events on the North Coast of California for almost 40 years. But the COVID labor shortage in his industry and area have led to some unexpected hires of late: like former fishermen and loggers. “Guys who have grown up in a lifestyle of harvesting natural resources, which are depleting like lumber and fish and crabs—those guys are trying to switch over to another industry,” Rowland said. “And they’re actually pretty good at the kind of stuff we do. Tents are like boats in terms of knots and tying and rigging; they’re very similar.”